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Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Friday Files

Hello, dear friends. The Friday Files is up and running a day early this week because tomorrow I will be on my way to see a certain special girl graduate.

Our house looks like Lilac City. Two of our trees are in full bloom. The lilac aroma reminds me of my old grammar school days. Some students would bring a bouquet from their garden into the teacher to suck up to her. As one with experience with this tactic - it didn't help.

If you are looking for last minute Mother's Day inspiration and missed my posts on gift ideas you can find them here, here, and here.

This week, we are highlighting Atlanta for our dream home tour. This beauty is in Buckhead and it's for sale.

I just finished Wait for Me and really enjoyed it. It's a beautiful love story with a historical slant. I highly recommend this one.

SynopsisYou know that you listen to a lot of audible books when you begin to recognize the voice of the reader. Cassandra Campbell read The Baker's Secret and did justice to this wonderful novel. I enjoyed every page of this book filled with colorful, quirky, and flawed characters fighting for their lives in the worst of circumstances. Emma is the heroine and the town baker with a heart of gold who is brave, as well as clever in aiding her fellow villagers. As a side note... I love listening to audible books. It was a gray, cool day today and I didn't want to go out for my walk. But I did want to finish this book. So instead of slacking off, I took my walk, finished the book, and felt much better when I got back.

Katie Clooney

I'm Katie. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am an empty nester meandering through my middle-aged years while entangled in the never-ending process of renovating an antique home on the South Shore of Massachusetts. I love to write about books, movies, TV, celebrities, decorating, and weekend adventures. My favorite writing material is derived from my family: the Mister, my girls, #1 and #2, and my two untrainable, rambunctious pups, Chowdah and Chili.

have a wonderful graduation Mother's Day weekend! Best mother's day gift I can think of....another child off of YOUR payroll!!! and maybe....just maybe, if your kids settle down here in the south.....you will come back here too!!

I wish we had lilacs here. They must smell heavenly! Thanks for the photo tips. I learned a few new ones. Not sure anything will help me! '-)Enjoy the weekend celebration.PSWent to a great new neighborhood restaurant tonight that I want to take you to next time you visit. You will love it and the little shop next door. '-) Tiny Boxwoods and The Garden House.

Love the lilacs! And those homes - I'll take the Chapel Hill abode with all those glorious windows! #1 pet peeve - people who are late. Thank goodness my girls don't take after their dad. Enjoy the celebrations of this huge family milestone this weekend, Katie! Oh, and Happy Mother's Day!

Katie, Congrats to your #2 and Happy Mother's Day! Your house selections today are amazing. Don't we all need a fireplace in our closets?? As I look at the gorgeous photo of your kitchen window with the lilacs I am inhaling, hoping for a whiff of my favorite scent. I'm still waiting for my white one to bloom this year after moving it, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Enjoy your special weekend! Linda

You can have that kitchen since you have a personal chef! No need to get extreme and learn to cook. Every kitchen needs a "manager"...sign up for that position! Congrats to your kiddo. Proud Mama on the road!-Laurel Bledsoe

This post contained enough interesting material to last me all day. I did enjoy the pilot's article, found the Hemingway article very delightful, and also found the "late" article interesting. I once told a boss who was perpetually late, that being late was the greatest sign of egotism - it simply meant that he valued himself and his concerns higher than anyone elses. He simply agreed and continued to be late. UGH!! I will read the rest later. Have a great trip and congratulations to your graduating daughter. Happy Mother's Day!

Lilacs, oh lilacs! Boston's "South Shore" will always be "home" to me but I now live in the South. One thing I greatly miss is the smell of lilacs in bloom! We've got "Confederate" Jasmine which is lovely but I miss the lilacs. They were such a sure sign of Spring after a long winter! Thanks Katie. Happy Mother's Day!

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for all the links, I am a terribly nervous flyer, in fact, didn't fly at all for 30 years! But have now, on occasion. This article really helped. Happy Mother's day!

Mostly we only see lilacs in florist shops here. I can't imagine having such beautiful and fragrant plants in a cutting garden! Beautiful arrangement at your sink to enjoy. Oh what inspiration here today, I can't imagine having such a grand house as these. I love Buckhead, lucky for me my sister lives there. I know you will enjoy getting familiar with the area when you visit your daughter. Happy Mother's Day Katie........

Lovely homes, though a little too grand for my lifestyle. Lilacs are blooming at my home in the Pacific Northwest right now. I love their scent, though it can be overwhelming if the blooms are brought indoors. Now is a beautiful time of year to visit Seattle's arboretum where azaleas, rhododendrons, and all kinds of trees are in bloom. Gorgeous! Love all your photos.

I love all the photos of the flowers - make me anticipate them blooming in New England even more. Lilacs and Lilies of the Valley smell the best! Congratulations to your graduate(my husband and I celebrated when each kid dropped off the payroll!). Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

your posts are the best Katie! seriously. i know i don't often comment anymore...because it boggles my mind to try to do it on an iphone or ipad but just know i'm here reading, lurking about, gathering knowledge from all your tips. your book recommendations are the best...hope you have a Mother's Day as lovely as you are and as happy as you make me when I read your posts.

The lilacs are gorgeous! Mine are blooming now as well. Hopefully all this rain today won't knock them off! Enjoy your Mother's Day and thank you for the link to the pilot's advice for flying. I am such a big baby on planes!Shelley

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Hello, I'm Katie

I'm Katie. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am an empty nester meandering through my middle-aged years while entangled in the never-ending process of renovating an antique home on the South Shore of Massachusetts. I love to write about books, movies, TV, celebrities, decorating, and weekend adventures. My favorite writing material is derived from my family: the Mister, my girls, #1 and #2, and my two untrainable, rambunctious pups, Chowdah and Chili.
You can contact me at: preppyemptynester@gmail.com